Urinary Tract Infections in Children - Symptoms

Symptoms

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children may not cause obvious urinary symptoms. Symptoms of a UTI in an infant or young child may include:

• Fever. This may be the only symptom in infants.
• Irritability.
• Lack of appetite.
• Failure to gain weight or develop normally.
• Foul-smelling urine.
• Crying during urination.
• Vomiting or diarrhea.

In an older child with a UTI, symptoms are usually easier to recognize and may include:

• Pain or burning when urinating.
• Urge to urinate frequently but usually passing only small amounts of urine.
• Loss of bladder control, new bed-wetting, or other changes in urination habits.
• Pain in the lower abdomen.
• Reddish or pinkish urine.
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
• Pain in the back just below the rib cage, on one side (flank pain).

A doctor's evaluation can determine whether a UTI or another condition is causing your child's symptoms.